Methods to encode a binary phase shift keying (bpsk) mark for a wake-up radio (wur) packet

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of an AP and wake up radio (WUR) non-AP station (STA) are generally described herein. The AP may transmit a WUR packet to wake up a wireless local area network (WLAN) radio of the WUR non-AP STA. A non-WUR portion of the WUR packet may include legacy fields and a BPSK mark to spoof high throughput (HT) devices receiving the WUR packet. The AP may transmit the BPSK mark in a channel that includes a lower guard band, a transmission bandwidth, and an upper guard band. The AP may encode the BPSK mark in accordance with: on-off keying (OOK) modulation in a center portion of the transmission bandwidth; and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) in a remaining portion of the transmission bandwidth that excludes the center portion.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/381,548, filed Apr. 11, 2019, which claims the benefit of priorityunder 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.62/655,957, filed Apr. 11, 2018 [reference number AB0403-Z,4884.714PRV], U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/665,723,filed May 2, 2018, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.62/721,05, filed Aug. 22, 2018, each of each of which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments pertain to wireless networks and wireless communications.Some embodiments relate to wireless local area networks (WLANs) andWi-Fi networks including networks operating in accordance with the IEEE802.11 family of standards. Some embodiments relate to IEEE 802.11ba.Some embodiments relate to wake-up radio (WUR). Some embodiments relateto methods, computer readable media, and apparatus for encoding of abinary phase shift keying (BPSK) mark.

BACKGROUND

Efficient use of the resources of a wireless local-area network (WLAN)is important to provide bandwidth and acceptable response times to theusers of the WLAN. However, often there are many devices trying to sharethe same resources and some devices may be limited by the communicationprotocol they use or by their hardware bandwidth. Moreover, wirelessdevices may need to operate with both newer protocols and with legacydevice protocols.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and notlimitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which likereferences indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a radio architecture in accordance withsome embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates a front-end module circuitry for use in the radioarchitecture of FIG. 1 in accordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates a radio IC circuitry for use in the radioarchitecture of FIG. 1 in accordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 4 illustrates a baseband processing circuitry for use in the radioarchitecture of FIG.1 in accordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 5 illustrates a WLAN in accordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an example machine upon which anyone or more of the techniques (e.g., methodologies) discussed herein mayperform;

FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of an example wireless device uponwhich any one or more of the techniques (e.g., methodologies oroperations) discussed herein may perform;

FIG. 8 illustrates the operation of a method in accordance with someembodiments;

FIG. 9 illustrates the operation of another method in accordance withsome embodiments;

FIG. 10 illustrates example wake up radio (WUR) packets and fields inaccordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 11 illustrates example WUR packets and fields in accordance withsome embodiments;

FIG. 12 illustrates example WUR packets and fields in accordance withsome embodiments;

FIG. 13 illustrates an example WUR packet and example fields inaccordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 14 illustrates an example in the frequency domain for WUR packettransmission in accordance with some embodiments; and

FIG. 15 illustrates an example in the frequency domain for WUR packettransmission in accordance with some embodiments.

DESCRIPTION

The following description and the drawings sufficiently illustratespecific embodiments to enable those skilled in the art to practicethem. Other embodiments may incorporate structural, logical, electrical,process, and other changes. Portions and features of some embodimentsmay be included in, or substituted for, those of other embodiments.Embodiments set forth in the claims encompass all available equivalentsof those claims.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a radio architecture 100 in accordance withsome embodiments. Radio architecture 100 may include radio front-endmodule (FEM) circuitry 104, radio IC circuitry 106 and basebandprocessing circuitry 108. Radio architecture 100 as shown includes bothWireless Local Area Network (WLAN) functionality and Bluetooth (BT)functionality although embodiments are not so limited. In thisdisclosure, “WLAN” and “Wi-Fi” are used interchangeably.

FEM circuitry 104 may include a WLAN or Wi-Fi FEM circuitry 104A and aBluetooth (BT) FEM circuitry 104B. The WLAN FEM circuitry 104A mayinclude a receive signal path comprising circuitry configured to operateon WLAN RF signals received from one or more antennas 101, to amplifythe received signals and to provide the amplified versions of thereceived signals to the WLAN radio IC circuitry 106A for furtherprocessing. The BT FEM circuitry 104B may include a receive signal pathwhich may include circuitry configured to operate on BT RF signalsreceived from one or more antennas 101, to amplify the received signalsand to provide the amplified versions of the received signals to the BTradio IC circuitry 106B for further processing. FEM circuitry 104A mayalso include a transmit signal path which may include circuitryconfigured to amplify WLAN signals provided by the radio IC circuitry106A for wireless transmission by one or more of the antennas 101. Inaddition, FEM circuitry 104B may also include a transmit signal pathwhich may include circuitry configured to amplify BT signals provided bythe radio IC circuitry 106B for wireless transmission by the one or moreantennas. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, although FEM 104A and FEM 104Bare shown as being distinct from one another, embodiments are not solimited, and include within their scope the use of an FEM (not shown)that includes a transmit path and/or a receive path for both WLAN and BTsignals, or the use of one or more FEM circuitries where at least someof the FEM circuitries share transmit and/or receive signal paths forboth WLAN and BT signals.

Radio IC circuitry 106 as shown may include WLAN radio IC circuitry 106Aand BT radio IC circuitry 106B. The WLAN radio IC circuitry 106A mayinclude a receive signal path which may include circuitry todown-convert WLAN RE signals received from the FEM circuitry 104A andprovide baseband signals to WLAN baseband processing circuitry 108A. BTradio IC circuitry 106B may in turn include a receive signal path whichmay include circuitry to down-convert WI RF signals received from theFEM circuitry 104B and provide baseband signals to BT basebandprocessing circuitry 108B. WLAN radio IC circuitry 106A may also includea transmit signal path which may include circuitry to up-convert WLANbaseband signals provided by the WLAN baseband processing circuitry 108Aand provide WLAN RF output signals to the FEM circuitry 104A forsubsequent wireless transmission by the one or more antennas 101. BTradio IC circuitry 1106B may also include a transmit signal path whichmay include circuitry to up-convert BT baseband signals provided by theBT baseband processing circuitry 108B and provide BT RE output signalsto the FEM circuitry 104B for subsequent wireless transmission by theone or more antennas 101, In the embodiment of FIG. 1, although radio ICcircuitries 106A and 106B are shown as being distinct from one another,embodiments are not so limited, and include within their scope the useof a radio IC circuitry (not shown) that includes a transmit signal pathand/or a receive signal path for both WLAN and BT signals, or the use ofone or more radio IC circuitries where at least some of the radio ICcircuitries share transmit and/or receive signal paths for both WLAN andBT signals.

Baseband processing circuity 108 may include a WLAN baseband processingcircuitry 108A and a BT baseband processing circuitry 108B. The WLANbaseband processing circuitry 108A may include a memory, such as, forexample, a set of RAM arrays in a Fast Fourier Transform or Inverse FastFourier Transform block (not shown) of the WLAN baseband processingcircuitry 108A. Each of the WLAN baseband circuitry 108A and the BTbaseband circuitry 108B may further include one or more processors andcontrol logic to process the signals received from the correspondingWLAN or BT receive signal path of the radio IC circuitry 106, and toalso generate corresponding WLAN or BT baseband signals for the transmitsignal path of the radio IC circuitry 106. Each of the basebandprocessing circuitries 108A and 108B may further include physical layer(PHY) and medium access control layer (MAC) circuitry, and may furtherinterface with application processor 111 for generation and processingof the baseband signals and for controlling operations of the radio ICcircuitry 106.

Referring still to FIG. 1, according to the shown embodiment, WLAN-BTcoexistence circuitry 113 may include logic providing an interfacebetween the WLAN baseband circuitry 108A and the BT baseband circuitry108B to enable use cases requiring WLAN and BT coexistence, In addition,a switch 103 may be provided between the WLAN FEM circuitry 104A and theBT FEM circuitry 104B to allow switching between the WLAN and BT radiosaccording to application needs. In addition, although the antennas 101are depicted as being respectively connected to the WLAN FEM circuitry104A and the BT FEM circuitry 104B, embodiments include within theirscope the sharing of one or more antennas as between the WLAN and BTFEMs, or the provision of more than one antenna connected to each of FEM104A or 104B.

In some embodiments, the front-end module circuitry 104, the radio ICcircuitry 106, and baseband processing circuitry 108 may be provided ona single radio card, such as wireless radio card 102. In some otherembodiments, the one or more antennas 101, the FEM circuitry 104 and theradio IC circuitry 106 may be provided on a single radio card. In someother embodiments, the radio IC circuitry 106 and the basebandprocessing circuitry 108 may be provided on a single chip or integratedcircuit (IC), such as IC 112.

In some embodiments, the wireless radio card 102 may include a WLANradio card and may be configured for Wi-Fi communications, although thescope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect. In some ofthese embodiments, the radio architecture 100 may be configured toreceive and transmit orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) ororthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) communicationsignals over a multicarrier communication channel. The OFDM or OFDMAsignals may comprise a plurality of orthogonal subcarriers.

In some of these multicarrier embodiments, radio architecture 100 may bepart of a Wi-Fi communication station (STA) such as a wireless accesspoint (AP), a base station or a mobile device including a Wi-Fi device.In some of these embodiments, radio architecture 100 may be configuredto transmit and receive signals in accordance with specificcommunication standards and/or protocols, such as any of the Instituteof Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards including, IEEE802.11n-2009, IEEE 802.11-2012, IEEE 802.11-2016, IEEE 802.11ba, IEEE802.11ac, and/or IEEE 802.11ax standards and/or proposed specificationsfor WLANs, although the scope of embodiments is not limited in thisrespect. Radio architecture 100 may also be suitable to transmit and/orreceive communications in accordance with other techniques andstandards.

In some embodiments, the radio architecture 100 may be configured forwake-up radio (WUR) operation in accordance with the IEEE 802.11bastandard. In these embodiments, the radio architecture 100 may beconfigured to communicate in accordance with an OFDM technique, althoughthe scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.

In some other embodiments, the radio architecture 100 may be configuredto transmit and receive signals transmitted using one or more othermodulation techniques such as spread spectrum modulation (e.g., directsequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) and/or frequencyhopping code division multiple access (FH-CDMA)), time-divisionmultiplexing (TDM) modulation, and/or frequency-division multiplexing(FDM) modulation, although the scope of the embodiments is not limitedin this respect.

In some embodiments, as further shown in FIG. 1, the BT basebandcircuitry 108B may be compliant with a Bluetooth (BT) connectivitystandard such as Bluetooth, Bluetooth 4.0 or Bluetooth 5.0, or any otheriteration of the Bluetooth Standard. In embodiments that include BTfunctionality as shown for example in FIG. 1, the radio architecture 100may be configured to establish a BT synchronous connection oriented(SCO) link and/or a BT low energy (BT LE) link. In some of theembodiments that include functionality, the radio architecture 100 maybe configured to establish an extended SCO (eSCO) link for BTcommunications, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited inthis respect. In some of these embodiments that include a 131functionality, the radio architecture may be configured to engage in aBT Asynchronous Connection-Less (ACL) communications, although the scopeof the embodiments is not limited in this respect. In some embodiments,as shown in FIG. 1, the functions of a BT radio card and WLAN radio cardmay be combined on a single wireless radio card, such as single wirelessradio card 102, although embodiments are not so limited, and includewithin their scope discrete WLAN and BT radio cards

In some embodiments, the radio-architecture 100 may include other radiocards, such as a cellular radio card configured for cellular (e.g., 3GPPsuch as LIE, LIE-Advanced or 5G communications).

In some IEEE 802.11 embodiments, the radio architecture 100 may beconfigured for communication over various channel bandwidths includingbandwidths having center frequencies of about 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, andbandwidths of about 1 MHz, 2 MHz, 2.5 MHz, 4 MHz, 5 MHz, 8 MHz, 10 MHz,16 MHz, 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz (with contiguous bandwidths) or 80+80 MHz(160 MHz) (with non-contiguous bandwidths). In some embodiments, a 320MHz channel bandwidth may be used. The scope of the embodiments is notlimited with respect to the above center frequencies however.

FIG. 2 illustrates FEM circuitry 200 in accordance with someembodiments. The FEM circuitry 200 is one example of circuitry that maybe suitable for use as the WLAN and/or BT FEM circuitry 104A/104B (FIG.1), although other circuitry configurations may also be suitable.

In some embodiments, the FEM circuitry 200 may include a TX/RX switch202 to switch between transmit mode and receive mode operation. The FEMcircuitry 200 may include a receive signal path and a transmit signalpath. The receive signal path of the FEM circuitry 200 may include alow-noise amplifier (LNA) 206 to amplify received RF signals 203 andprovide the amplified received RF signals 207 as an output (e.g., to theradio IC circuitry 106 (FIG. 1)). The transmit signal path of thecircuitry 200 may include a power amplifier (PA) to amplify input RFsignals 209 (e.g., provided by the radio IC circuitry 106), and one ormore filters 212, such as band-pass filters (BPFs), low-pass filters(LPFs) or other types of filters, to generate RF signals 215 forsubsequent transmission (e.g., by one or more of the antennas 101 (FIG.1)).

In some dual-mode embodiments for Wi-Fi communication, the FEM circuitry200 may be configured to operate in either the 2.4 GHz frequencyspectrum or the 5 GHz frequency spectrum. In these embodiments, thereceive signal path of the FEM circuitry 200 may include a receivesignal path duplexer 204 to separate the signals from each spectrum aswell as provide a separate LNA 206 for each spectrum as shown. In theseembodiments, the transmit signal path of the FENT circuitry 200 may alsoinclude a power amplifier 210 and a filter 212, such as a BPF, a LPF oranother type of filter for each frequency spectrum and a transmit signalpath duplexer 214 to provide the signals of one of the differentspectrums onto a single transmit path for subsequent transmission by theone or more of the antennas 101 (FIG. 1). In some embodiments, BTcommunications may utilize the 2.4 GHZ signal paths and may utilize thesame FEM circuitry 200 as the one used for WLAN communications.

FIG. 3 illustrates radio IC circuitry 300 in accordance with someembodiments. The radio IC circuitry 300 is one example of circuitry thatmay be suitable for use as the WLAN or BT radio IC circuitry 106A/106B(FIG. 1), although other circuitry configurations may also be suitable.

In some embodiments, the radio IC circuitry 300 may include a receivesignal path and a transmit signal path. The receive signal path of theradio IC circuitry 300 may include at least mixer circuitry 302, suchas, for example, down-conversion mixer circuitry, amplifier circuitry306 and filter circuitry 308. The transmit signal path of the radio ICcircuitry 300 may include at least filter circuitry 312 and mixercircuitry 314, such as, for example, up-conversion mixer circuitry.Radio IC circuitry 300 may also include synthesizer circuitry 304 forsynthesizing a frequency 305 for use by the mixer circuitry 302 and themixer circuitry 314. The mixer circuitry 302 and/or 314 may each,according to some embodiments, be configured to provide directconversion functionality. The latter type of circuitry presents a muchsimpler architecture as compared with standard super-heterodyne mixercircuitries, and any flicker noise brought about by the same may bealleviated for example through the use of OFDM modulation. FIG. 3illustrates only a simplified version of a radio IC circuitry, and mayinclude, although not shown, embodiments where each of the depictedcircuitries may include more than one component. For instance, mixercircuitry 320 and/or 314 may each include one or more mixers, and filtercircuitries 308 and/or 312 may each include one or more filters, such asone or more BPFs and/or LPFs according to application needs. Forexample, when mixer circuitries are of the direct-conversion type, theymay each include two or more mixers.

In some embodiments, mixer circuitry 302 may be configured todown-convert RF signals 207 received from the FEM circuitry 104 (FIG. 1)based on the synthesized frequency 305 provided by synthesizer circuitry304. The amplifier circuitry 306 may be configured to amplify thedown-converted signals and the filter circuitry 308 may include a LPFconfigured to remove unwanted signals from the down-converted signals togenerate output baseband signals 307. Output baseband signals 307 may beprovided to the baseband processing circuitry 108 (FIG. 1) for furtherprocessing. In some embodiments, the output baseband signals 307 may bezero-frequency baseband signals, although this is not a requirement. Insome embodiments, mixer circuitry 302 may comprise passive mixers,although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.

In some embodiments, the mixer circuitry 314 may be configured toup-convert input baseband signals 311 based on the synthesized frequency305 provided by the synthesizer circuitry 304 to generate RF outputsignals 209 for the FEM circuitry 104. The baseband signals 311 may beprovided by the baseband processing circuitry 108 and may be filtered byfilter circuitry 312. The filter circuitry 312 may include a LPF or aBPF, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in thisrespect.

In some embodiments, the mixer circuitry 302 and the mixer circuitry 314may each include two or more mixers and may be arranged for quadraturedown-conversion and/or up-conversion respectively with the help ofsynthesizer 304. In some embodiments, the mixer circuitry 302 and themixer circuitry 314 may each include two or more mixers each configuredfor image rejection (e.g., Hartley image rejection). In someembodiments, the mixer circuitry 302 and the mixer circuitry 314 may bearranged for direct down-conversion and/or direct up-conversion,respectively. In some embodiments, the mixer circuitry 302 and the mixercircuitry 314 may be configured for super-heterodyne operation, althoughthis is not a requirement.

Mixer circuitry 302 may comprise, according to one embodiment:quadrature passive mixers (e.g., for the in-phase (I) and quadraturephase (Q) paths). In such an embodiment, RF input signal 207 from FIG. 3may be down-converted to provide I and Q baseband output signals to besent to the baseband processor

Quadrature passive mixers may be driven by zero and ninety-degreetime-varying LO switching signals provided by a quadrature circuitrywhich may be configured to receive a frequency (f_(LO)) from a localoscillator or a synthesizer, such as LO frequency 305 of synthesizer 304(FIG. 3). In some embodiments, the LO frequency may be the carrierfrequency, while in other embodiments, the LO frequency may be afraction of the carrier frequency (e.g., one-half the carrier frequency,one-third the carrier frequency). In some embodiments, the zero andninety-degree time-varying switching signals may be generated by thesynthesizer, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited inthis respect.

In some embodiments, the LO signals may differ in duty cycle (thepercentage of one period in which the LO signal is high) and/or offset(the difference between start points of the period). In someembodiments, the LO signals may have a 25% duty cycle and a 50% offset.In some embodiments, each branch of the mixer circuitry (e.g., thein-phase (I) and quadrature phase (Q) path) may operate at a 25% dutycycle, which may result in a significant reduction is power consumption.

The RE input signal 207 (FIG. 2) may comprise a balanced signal,although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.The I and Q baseband output signals may be provided to low-noseamplifier, such as amplifier circuitry 306 (FIG. 3) or to filtercircuitry 308 (FIG. 3).

In some embodiments, the output baseband signals 307 and the inputbaseband signals 311 may be analog baseband signals, although the scopeof the embodiments is not limited in this respect. In some alternateembodiments, the output baseband signals 307 and the input basebandsignals 311 may be digital baseband signals. In these alternateembodiments, the radio IC circuitry may include analog-to-digitalconverter (ADC) and digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuitry.

In some dual-mode embodiments, a separate radio IC circuitry may beprovided for processing signals for each spectrum, or for otherspectrums not mentioned here, although the scope of the embodiments isnot limited in this respect.

In some embodiments, the synthesizer circuitry 304 may be a fractional-Nsynthesizer or a fractional N/N+1 synthesizer, although the scope of theembodiments is not limited in this respect as other types of frequencysynthesizers may be suitable. For example, synthesizer circuitry 304 maybe a delta-sigma synthesizer, a frequency multiplier, or a synthesizercomprising a phase-locked loop with a frequency divider. According tosome embodiments, the synthesizer circuitry 304 may include digitalsynthesizer circuitry. An advantage of using a digital synthesizercircuitry is that, although it may still include some analog components,its footprint may be scaled down much more than the footprint of ananalog synthesizer circuitry, In some embodiments, frequency input intosynthesizer circuity 304 may be provided by a voltage controlledoscillator (VCO), although that is not a requirement. A divider controlinput may further be provided by either the baseband processingcircuitry 108 (FIG. 1) or the application processor 111 (FIG. 1)depending on the desired output frequency 305. In some embodiments, adivider control input (e.g., N) may be determined from a look-up table(e.g., within a Wi-Fi card) based on a channel number and a channelcenter frequency as determined or indicated by the application processor111.

In some embodiments, synthesizer circuitry 304 may be configured togenerate a carrier frequency as the output frequency 305, while in otherembodiments, the output frequency 305 may be a fraction of the carrierfrequency (e.g., one-half the carrier frequency, one-third the carrierfrequency). In some embodiments, the output frequency 305 may be a LOfrequency (f_(LO)).

FIG. 4 illustrates a functional block diagram of baseband processingcircuitry 400 in accordance with some embodiments. The basebandprocessing circuitry 400 is one example of circuitry that may besuitable for use as the baseband processing circuitry 108 (FIG. 1),although other circuitry configurations may also be suitable. Thebaseband processing circuitry 400 may include a receive basebandprocessor (RX BBI) 402 for processing receive baseband signals 309provided by the radio IC circuitry 106 (FIG. 1) and a transmit basebandprocessor (TX BBP) 404 for generating transmit baseband signals 311 forthe radio IC circuitry 106. The baseband processing circuitry 400 mayalso include control logic 406 for coordinating the operations of theba.seba.nd processing circuitry 400.

In some embodiments (e.g., when analog baseband signals are exchangedbetween the baseband processing circuitry 400 and the radio IC circuitry106), the baseband processing circuitry 400 may include ADC 410 toconvert analog baseband signals received from the radio IC circuitry 106to digital baseband signals for processing by the RX BBP 402. In theseembodiments, the baseband processing circuitry 400 may also include DAC412 to convert digital baseband signals from the TX BBP 404 to analogbaseband signals.

In some embodiments that communicate OFDM signals or OFDMA signals, suchas through baseband processor 108A, the transmit baseband processor 404may be configured to generate OFDM or OFDMA signals as appropriate fortransmission by performing an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT). Thereceive baseband processor 402 may be configured to process receivedOFDM signals or OFDMA signals by performing an FFT. In some embodiments,the receive baseband processor 402 may be configured to detect thepresence of an OFDM signal or OFDMA signal by performing anautocorrelation, to detect a preamble, such as a short preamble, and byperforming a cross-correlation, to detect a long preamble. The preamblesmay be part of a predetermined frame structure for Wi-Fi communication.

Referring back to FIG. 1, in some embodiments, the antennas 101 (FIG. 1)may each comprise one or more directional or omnidirectional antennas,including, for example, dipole antennas, monopole antennas, patchantennas, loop antennas, microstrip antennas or other types of antennassuitable for transmission of RF signals. In some multiple-inputmultiple-output (MIMO) embodiments, the antennas may be effectivelyseparated to take advantage of spatial diversity and the differentchannel characteristics that may result. Antennas 101 may each include aset of phased-array antennas, although embodiments are not so limited.

Although the radio-architecture 100 is illustrated as having severalseparate functional elements, one or more of the functional elements maybe combined and may be implemented by combinations ofsoftware-configured elements, such as processing elements includingdigital signal processors (DSPs), and/or other hardware elements. Forexample, some elements may comprise one or more microprocessors, DSPs,field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integratedcircuits (ASICs), radio-frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) andcombinations of various hardware and logic circuitry for performing atleast the functions described herein. In some embodiments, thefunctional elements may refer to one or more processes operating on oneor more processing elements.

FIG. 5 illustrates a WLAN 500 in accordance with some embodiments. TheWLAN 500 may include an access point (AP) 502 and one or more stations(STAs) 504. In some embodiments, the WLAN 500 may support one or morelegacy devices 508, although the scope of embodiments is not limited inthis respect.

In some embodiments, an STA 504 may be a wake-up radio non-AP STA (WURnon-AP STA) or may be configured to operate as a WUR non-AP STA. Asillustrated in FIG. 5, the MIR non-AP STA 504 may comprise a wirelesslocal area network (WLAN) radio 505 and a WUR receiver (WURx) 506. Insome descriptions herein, one or more techniques, operations, and/ormethods may be performed by a WUR non-AP STA 504 that comprises a WLANradio 505 and a WURx 506, but the scope of embodiments is not limited inthis respect. Other devices (including other STAs, legacy devices 508and/or other) may perform one or more of those techniques, operationsand/or methods, in sonic embodiments.

The AP 502 may use one or more IEEE 802.11 protocols (such as 802.11baand/or other(s)) to transmit and receive. The AP 502 may be a basestation. The AP 502 may use other communications protocols as well asthe IEEE 802.11 protocol. The IEEE 802.11 protocol may be IEEE 802.11ba.The IEEE 802.11 protocol may include using orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexing (OFDM), orthogonal frequency division multiple-access(OFDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), and/or code divisionmultiple access (CDMA). The IEEE 802.11 protocol may include a multipleaccess technique. For example, the IEEE 802.11 protocol may includespace-division multiple access (SDMA) and/or multiple-usermultiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO). In some embodiments, there maybe more than one AP 502 that is part of an extended service set (ESS).In some embodiments, a controller (not illustrated) may storeinformation that is common to the more than one AP 502.

The legacy devices 508 may operate in accordance with one or more ofIEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ad/af/ah/aj/ay, or another legacy wirelesscommunication standard. The legacy devices 508 may be STAs or IEEE STAs.The WUR non-AP STAs 504 may be wireless transmit and receive devicessuch as cellular telephone, portable electronic wireless communicationdevices, smart telephone, handheld wireless device, wireless glasses,wireless watch, wireless personal device, tablet, or another device thatmay be transmitting and receiving using the IEEE 802.11 protocol such asIEEE 802.11ax or another wireless protocol.

The HE AP 502 may communicate with legacy devices 508 in accordance withlegacy IEEE 802.11 communication techniques. In example embodiments, theHE AP 502 may also be configured to communicate with WUR non-AP STAs 504in accordance with legacy IEEE 802.11 communication techniques.

In some embodiments, a frame may be configurable to have the samebandwidth as a channel. In some embodiments, the frame may be a physicalLayer Convergence Procedure (PLCP) Protocol Data Unit (PPM). In someembodiments, there may be different types of PPI)Us that may havedifferent fields and different physical layers and/or different mediaaccess control (MAC) layers.

In some embodiments, the bandwidth of a channel may be 20 MHz, 40 MHz,or 80 MHz, 160 MHz, 320 MHz contiguous bandwidths or an 80+80 MHz (160MHz) non-contiguous bandwidth. In some embodiments, the bandwidth of achannel may be 1 MHz, 1.25 MHz, 2.03 MHz, 2.5 MHz, 4.06 MHz, 5 MHz and10 MHz, or a combination thereof or another bandwidth that is less orequal to the available bandwidth may also be used. In some embodimentsthe bandwidth of the channels may be based on a number of active datasubcarriers. In some embodiments the bandwidth of the channels is basedon 26, 52, 106, 242, 484, 996, or 2×996 active data subcarriers or tonesthat are spaced by 20 MHz. In some embodiments the bandwidth of thechannels is 256 tones spaced by 20 MHz. In some embodiments the channelsare multiple of 26 tones or a multiple of 2.0 MHz. In some embodiments a20 MHz channel may comprise 242 active data subcarriers or tones, whichmay determine the size of a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). An allocationof a bandwidth or a number of tones or sub-carriers may be termed aresource unit (RU) allocation in accordance with some embodiments.

In some embodiments, a frame may be configured for transmitting a numberof spatial streams, which may he in accordance with MI-MIMO and may bein accordance with OFDMA and/or OFDM. In some embodiments, the AP 502,WUR non-AP STA 504, and/or legacy device 508 may also implementdifferent technologies such as code division multiple access (CDMA)2000, CDMA 2000 1X, CDMA 2000 Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO), InterimStandard 2000 (IS-2000), Interim Standard 95 (IS-95), Interim Standard856 (IS-856), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Global System for Mobilecommunications (GSM), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), GSMEDGE (GERAN), IEEE 802.16 (i.e., Worldwide Interoperability forMicrowave Access (WiMAX)), BlueTooth®, or other technologies.

In some embodiments, the AP 502 may also communicate with legacystations 508 and/or WUR non-AP STAs 504 and/or STAs 504 in accordancewith legacy IEEE 802.11 communication techniques. In some embodiments,the WUR non-AP STA 504 and/or AP 502 and/or STA 504 may be configured tooperate in accordance with IEEE 802.11ba. In example embodiments, theradio architecture of FIG. 1 is configured to implement the WUR non-APSTA 504 and/or AP 502 and/or STA 504. In example embodiments, thefront-end module circuitry of FIG. 2 is configured to implement the WURnon-AP STA 504 and/or AP 502 and/or STA 504. In example embodiments, theradio IC circuitry of FIG. 3 is configured to implement the WUR non-APSTA 504 and/or AP 502 and/or STA 504. In example embodiments, thebase-band processing circuitry of FIG. 4 is configured to implement theWUR non-AP STA 504 and/or AP 502 and/or STA 504.

In example embodiments, the WUR non-AP STA 504, AP 502, STA 504, anapparatus of the WUR non-AP STA 504, an apparatus of the AP 502 and/oran apparatus of the STA 504 may include one or more of the following:the radio architecture of FIG. 1, the front-end module circuitry of FIG.2, the radio IC circuitry of FIG. 3, and/or the base-band processingcircuitry of FIG. 4.

In example embodiments, the radio architecture of FIG. 1, the front-endmodule circuitry of FIG. 2, the radio IC circuitry of FIG. 3, and/or thebase-band processing circuitry of FIG, 4 may be configured to performthe methods and operations/functions herein described in conjunctionwith FIGS. 1-15. In example embodiments, the WUR non-AP STA 504 and/orthe AP 502 and/or the STA 504 are configured to perform the methods andoperations/functions described herein in conjunction with FIGS. 1-15. Inexample embodiments, an apparatus of the WUR non-AP STA 504 and/or anapparatus of the AP 502 and/or an apparatus of the STA 504 areconfigured to perform the methods and functions described herein inconjunction with FIGS. 1-15. The term Wi-Fi may refer to one or more ofthe IEEE 802.11 communication standards. AP and STA may refer to AP 502and/or WUR non-AP STA. 504 and/or legacy devices 508.

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an example machine 600 upon whichany one or more of the techniques (e.g., methodologies) discussed hereinmay perform. In alternative embodiments, the machine 600 may operate asa standalone device or may be connected (e.g., networked) to othermachines. In a networked deployment, the machine 600 may operate in thecapacity of a server machine, a client machine, or both in server-clientnetwork environments. In an example, the machine 600 may act as a peermachine in peer-to-peer (P2P) (or other distributed) networkenvironment. The machine 600 may be an AP 502, WUR non-AP STA 504, STA504, personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), apersonal digital assistant (PDA), a portable communications device, amobile telephone, a smart phone, a web appliance, a network router,switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing instructions(sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by thatmachine. Further, while only a single machine is illustrated, the term“machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines thatindividually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructionsto perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein, suchas cloud computing, software as a service (SaaS), other computer clusterconfigurations.

Machine (e.g., computer system) 600 may include a hardware processor 602(e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit(GPU), a hardware processor core, or any combination thereof), a mainmemory 604 and a static memory 606, some or all of which may communicatewith each other via an interlink (e.g., bus) 608.

Specific examples of main memory 604 include Random Access Memory (RAM),and semiconductor memory devices, which may include, in someembodiments, storage locations in semiconductors such as registers.Specific examples of static memory 606 include non-volatile memory, suchas semiconductor memory devices (e.g., Electrically ProgrammableRead-Only Memory (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-OnlyMemory (EEPROM)) and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, such asinternal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; RAM; andCD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks.

The machine 600 may further include a display device 610, an inputdevice 612 (e.g., a keyboard), and a user interface (UI) navigationdevice 614 (e.g., a mouse). In an example, the display device 610, inputdevice 612 and UI navigation device 614 may be a touch screen display.The machine 600 may additionally include a mass storage (e.g., driveunit) 616, a signal generation device 618 (e.g., a speaker), a networkinterface device 620, and one or more sensors 621, such as a globalpositioning system (GPS) sensor, compass, accelerometer, or othersensor. The machine 600 may include an output controller 628, such as aserial (e.g., universal serial bus (USB), parallel, or other wired orwireless (e.g., infrared(IR), near field communication (NFC), etc.)connection to communicate or control one or more peripheral devices(e.g., a printer, card reader, etc.). In some embodiments the processor602 and/or instructions 624 may comprise processing circuitry and/ortransceiver circuitry.

The storage device 616 may include a machine readable medium 622 onwhich is stored one or more sets of data structures or instructions 624(e.g., software) embodying or utilized by any one or more of thetechniques or functions described herein. The instructions 624 may alsoreside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory 604,within static memory 606, or within the hardware processor 602 duringexecution thereof by the machine 600. In an example, one or anycombination of the hardware processor 602, the main memory 604, thestatic memory 606, or the storage device 616 may constitute machinereadable media.

Specific examples of machine readable media may include: non-volatilememory, such as semiconductor memory devices (e.g., EPROM or EEPROM) andflash memory devices; magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks andremovable disks; magneto-optical disks; RAM; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROMdisks.

While the machine readable medium 622 is illustrated as a single medium,the term “machine readable medium” may include a single medium ormultiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/orassociated caches and servers) configured to store the one or moreinstructions 624.

An apparatus of the machine 600 may he one or more of a hardwareprocessor 602 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphicsprocessing unit (GPU), a hardware processor core, or any combinationthereof), a main memory 604 and a static memory 606, sensors 621,network interface device 620, antennas 660, a display device 610, aninput device 612, a UI navigation device 614, a mass storage 616,instructions 624, a signal generation device 618, and an outputcontroller 628. The apparatus may be configured to perform one or moreof the methods and/or operations disclosed herein. The apparatus may beintended as a component of the machine 600 to perform one or more of themethods and/or operations disclosed herein, and/or to perform a portionof one or more of the methods and/or operations disclosed herein. Insome embodiments, the apparatus may include a pin or other means toreceive power. In some embodiments, the apparatus may include powerconditioning hardware.

The term “machine readable medium” may include any medium that iscapable of storing, encoding, or carrying instructions for execution bythe machine 600 and that cause the machine 600 to perform any one ormore of the techniques of the present disclosure, or that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying data structures used by or associated withsuch instructions. Non-limiting machine readable medium examples mayinclude solid-state memories, and optical and magnetic media. Specificexamples of machine readable media may include: non-volatile memory,such as semiconductor memory devices (e.g., Electrically ProgrammableRead-Only Memory (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-OnlyMemory (EEPROM)) and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, such asinternal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; RandomAccess Memory (RAM); and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. In some examples,machine readable media may include non-transitory machine readablemedia. In some examples, machine readable media may include machinereadable media that is not a transitory propagating signal.

The instructions 624 may further be transmitted or received over acommunications network 626 using a transmission medium via the networkinterface device 620 utilizing any one of a number of transfer protocols(e.g., frame relay, internet protocol (IP), transmission controlprotocol (TCP), user datagram protocol (UDP), hypertext transferprotocol (HTTP), etc). Example communication networks may include alocal area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a packet datanetwork (e.g., the Internet), mobile telephone networks (e,g., cellularnetworks), Plain Old Telephone (POTS) networks, and wireless datanetworks (e.g., Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)802.11 family of standards known as Wi-Fi®, IEEE 802.16 family ofstandards known as WiMax®), IEEE 802.15.4 family of standards, a LongTerm Evolution (LTE) family of standards, a Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS) family of standards, peer-to-peer (P2P)networks, among others.

in an example, the network interface device 620 may include one or morephysical jacks (e.g., Ethernet, coaxial, or phone jacks) or one or moreantennas to connect to the communications network 626. In an example,the network interface device 620 may include one or more antennas 660 towirelessly communicate using at least one of single-inputmultiple-output (SIMO), multiple-input multiple-output (MEM), ormultiple-input single-output (MISO) techniques. In some examples, thenetwork interface device 620 may wirelessly communicate using MultipleUser MIMO techniques. The term “transmission medium” shall be taken toinclude any intangible medium that is capable of storing, encoding orcarrying instructions for execution by the machine 600, and includesdigital or analog communications signals or other intangible medium tofacilitate communication of such software.

Examples, as described herein, may include, or may operate on, logic ora number of components, modules, or mechanisms. Modules are tangibleentities (e.g., hardware) capable of performing specified operations andmay be configured or arranged in a certain manner. In an example,circuits may be arranged (e.g., internally or with respect to externalentities such as other circuits) in a specified manner as a module. Inan example, the whole or part of one or more computer systems (e.g., astandalone, client or server computer system) or one or more hardwareprocessors may be configured by firmware or software (e.g.,instructions, an application portion, or an application) as a modulethat operates to perform specified operations. In an example, thesoftware may reside on a machine readable medium. In an example, thesoftware, when executed by the underlying hardware of the module, causesthe hardware to perform the specified operations.

Accordingly, the term “module” is understood to encompass a tangibleentity, be that an entity that is physically constructed, specificallyconfigured (e.g., hardwired), or temporarily (e.g., transitorily)configured (e.g., programmed) to operate in a specified manner or toperform part or all of any operation described herein. Consideringexamples in which modules are temporarily configured, each of themodules need not be instantiated at any one moment in time. For example,where the modules comprise a general-purpose hardware processorconfigured using software, the general-purpose hardware processor may beconfigured as respective different modules at different times. Softwaremay accordingly configure a hardware processor, for example, toconstitute a particular module at one instance of time and to constitutea different module at a different instance of time.

Some embodiments may be implemented fully or partially in softwareand/or firmware. This software and/or firmware may take the form ofinstructions contained in or on a non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium. Those instructions may then be read and executed by oneor more processors to enable performance of the operations describedherein. The instructions may be in any suitable form, such as but notlimited to source code, compiled code, interpreted code, executablecode, static code, dynamic code, and the like. Such a computer-readablemedium may include any tangible non-transitory medium for storinginformation in a form readable by one or more computers, such as but notlimited to read only memory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); magneticdisk storage media; optical storage media; flash memory, etc.

FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of an example wireless device 700upon which any one or more of the techniques (e.g., methodologies oroperations) discussed herein may perform. The wireless device 700 may bea WUR non-AP STA 504, STA 504 and/or AP 502 (e.g., FIG. 5). A WUR non-APSTA 504, STA 504 and/or AP 502 may include some or all of the componentsshown in FIGS. 1-7. The wireless device 700 may be an example machine600 as disclosed in conjunction with FIG. 6.

The wireless device 700 may include processing circuitry 708. Theprocessing circuitry 708 may include a transceiver 702, physical layercircuitry (PHY circuitry) 704, and MAC layer circuitry (MAC circuitry)706, one or more of which may enable transmission and reception ofsignals to and from other wireless devices 700 (e.g., WUR non-AP STA504, STA 504, AP 502 and/or legacy devices 508) using one or moreantennas 712. As an example, the PHY circuitry 704 may perform variousencoding and decoding functions that may include formation of basebandsignals for transmission and decoding of received signals. As anotherexample, the transceiver 702 may perform various transmission andreception functions such as conversion of signals between a basebandrange and a Radio Frequency (RF) range.

Accordingly, the PITY circuitry 704 and the transceiver 702 may beseparate components or may be part of a combined component, e.g.,processing circuitry 708. In addition, some of the describedfunctionality related to transmission and reception of signals may beperformed by a combination that may include one, any or all of the PHYcircuitry 704 the transceiver 702, MAC circuitry 706, memory 710, andother components or layers. The MAC circuitry 706 may control access tothe wireless medium. The wireless device 700 may also include memory 710arranged to perform the operations described herein, e.g., some of theoperations described herein may be performed by instructions stored inthe memory 710.

The antennas 712 (some embodiments may include only one antenna) maycomprise one or more directional or omnidirectional antennas, including,for example, dipole antennas, monopole antennas, patch antennas, loopantennas, microstrip antennas or other types of antennas suitable fortransmission of RF signals. In some multiple-input multiple-output(MIMO) embodiments, the antennas 712. may be effectively separated totake advantage of spatial diversity and the different channelcharacteristics that may result.

One or more of the memory 710, the transceiver 702, the PHY circuitry704, the MAC circuitry 706, the antennas 712, and/or the processingcircuitry 708 may be coupled with one another. Moreover, although memory710, the transceiver 702, the PHY circuitry 704, the MAC circuitry 706,the antennas 712 are illustrated as separate components, one or more ofmemory 710, the transceiver 702, the PHY circuitry 704, the MACcircuitry 706, the antennas 712 may be integrated in an electronicpackage or chip.

In some embodiments, the wireless device 700 may be a mobile device asdescribed in conjunction with FIG. 6, In some embodiments the wirelessdevice 700 may be configured to operate in accordance with one or morewireless communication standards as described herein (e.g., as describedin conjunction with FIGS. 1-6, IEEE 802.11). In some embodiments, thewireless device 700 may include one or more of the components asdescribed in conjunction with FIG. 6 (e.g., display device 610, inputdevice 612, etc.) Although the wireless device 700 is illustrated ashaving several separate functional elements, one or more of thefunctional elements may be combined and may be implemented bycombinations of software-configured elements, such as processingelements including digital signal processors (DSPs), and/or otherhardware elements. For example, some elements may comprise one or moremicroprocessors, DSPs, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs),application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), radio-frequencyintegrated circuits (RFICs) and combinations of various hardware andlogic circuitry for performing at least the functions described herein.In some embodiments, the functional elements may refer to one or moreprocesses operating on one or more processing elements.

In some embodiments, an apparatus of or used by the wireless device 700may include various components of the wireless device 700 as shown inFIG. 7 and/or components from FIGS. 1-6. Accordingly, techniques andoperations described herein that refer to the wireless device 700 may beapplicable to an apparatus for a wireless device 700 (e.g., WUR non-APSTA 504, STA 504 and/or AP 502), in some embodiments. In someembodiments, the wireless device 700 is configured to decode and/orencode signals, packets, and/or frames as described herein, e.g., PPDUs.

In some embodiments, the MAC circuitry 706 may be arranged to contendfor a wireless medium during a contention period to receive control ofthe medium for a HE TXOP and encode or decode an HE PPDU. In someembodiments, the MAC circuitry 706 may be arranged to contend for thewireless medium based on channel contention settings, a transmittingpower level, and a clear channel assessment level (e.g., an energydetect level).

The PHY circuitry 704 may be arranged to transmit signals in accordancewith one or more communication standards described herein. For example,the circuitry 704 may be configured to transmit a HE PPDU. The PHYcircuitry 704 may include circuitry for modulation/demodulation,upconversion/downconversion, filtering, amplification, etc. In someembodiments, the processing circuitry 708 may include one or moreprocessors. The processing circuitry 708 may be configured to performfunctions based on instructions being stored in a RAM or ROM, or basedon special purpose circuitry. The processing circuitry 708 may include aprocessor such as a general purpose processor or special purposeprocessor. The processing circuitry 708 may implement one or morefunctions associated with antennas 712, the transceiver 702, the PHYcircuitry 704, the MAC circuitry 706, and/or the memory 710. In someembodiments, the processing circuitry 708 may be configured to performone or more of the functions/operations and/or methods described herein.

In accordance with some embodiments, the AP 502 may transmit, to awake-up receiver (WURx) 506 of a wake-up radio non-access point (AP)station (WUR non-AP STA) 504, a wake-up radio (Milt) packet to wake up awireless local area network (WLAN) radio 505 of the WUR non-AP STA 504.The AP 502 may encode a non-WUR portion of the WUR packet to include alegacy short training field (L-STF), a legacy long training field(L-LTF), a legacy signal field (L-SIG), and a binary phase-shift keying(BPSK) mark, the BPSK mark to spoof high throughput (HT) devicesreceiving the WUR packet. The AP 502 may transmit the BPSK mark in achannel that includes a lower guard band, a transmission bandwidth, andan upper guard band. The AP 502 may encode the BPSK mark in accordancewith: on-off keying (OOK) modulation in a center portion of thetransmission bandwidth; and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing(OFDM) in a remaining portion of the transmission bandwidth thatexcludes the center portion, wherein the remaining portion of thetransmission bandwidth is divided into data subcarriers, wherein BPSKsymbols are mapped to the data subcarriers. These embodiments aredescribed in more detail below.

FIG. 8 illustrates the operation of a method of communication inaccordance with some embodiments. FIG. 9 illustrates the operation ofanother method of communication in accordance with some embodiments. Itis important to note that embodiments of the methods 800, 900 mayinclude additional or even fewer operations or processes in comparisonto what is illustrated in FIGS. 8-9, In addition, embodiments of themethods 800, 900 are not necessarily limited to the chronological orderthat is shown in FIGS. 8-9. In describing the methods 800, 900,reference may be made to one or more figures, although it is understoodthat the methods 800, 900 may be practiced with any other suitablesystems, interfaces and components.

In some embodiments, an AP 502 may perform one or more operations of themethod 800, but embodiments are not limited to performance of the method800 and/or operations of it by the AP 502. In some embodiments, anotherdevice and/or component may perform one or more operations of the method800. In some embodiments, another device and/or component may performone or more operations that may be similar to one or more operations ofthe method 800. In some embodiments, another device and/or component mayperform one or more operations that may be reciprocal to one or moreoperations of the method 800. In a non-limiting example, the WUR non-APSTA 504 (and/or STA 504) may perform an operation that may be the sameas, similar to, reciprocal to and/or related to an operation of themethod 800, in some embodiments.

In some embodiments, a WUR non-AP STA 504 may perform one or moreoperations of the method 900, but embodiments are not limited toperformance of the method 900 and/or operations of it by the WUR non-APSTA 504. In some embodiments, another device and/or component mayperform one or more operations of the method 900. In some embodiments,another device and/or component may perform one or more operations thatmay be similar to one or more operations of the method 900. In someembodiments, another device and/or component may perform one or moreoperations that may be reciprocal to one or more operations of themethod 900, In a non-limiting example, the AP 502 may perform anoperation that may be the same as, similar to, reciprocal to and/orrelated to an operation of the method 900, in some embodiments. Inanother non-limiting example, an STA 504 may perform an operation thatmay be the same as, similar to, reciprocal to and/or related to anoperation of the method 900, in some embodiments

It should be noted that one or more operations of one of the methods800, 900 may be the same as, similar to and/or reciprocal to one or moreoperations of the other method, For instance, an operation of the method800 may be the same as, similar to and/or reciprocal to an operation ofthe method 900, in some embodiments. In a non-limiting example, anoperation of the method 800 may include transmission of an element (suchas a frame, block, message and/or other) by the AP 502, and an operationof the method 900 may include reception of a same element (and/orsimilar element) by the WUR non-AP STA 504. In some cases, descriptionsof operations and techniques described as part of one of the methods800, 900 may be relevant to the other method. Discussion of varioustechniques and concepts regarding one of the methods 800, 900 and/orother method may be applicable to one of the other methods, although thescope of embodiments is not limited in this respect.

The methods 800, 900 and other methods described herein may refer to APs502, WUR non-AP STAs 504, STAs 504 and/or other devices configured tooperate in accordance with WLAN standards, 802.11 standards and/or otherstandards. However, embodiments are not limited to performance of thosemethods by those components, and may also be performed by other devices,such as an Evolved Node-B (eNB), User Equipment (UI) and/or other. Inaddition, the methods 800, 900 and other methods described herein may bepracticed by wireless devices configured to operate in other suitabletypes of wireless communication systems, including systems configured tooperate according to Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)standards, 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) standards, 5G standards, NewRadio (NR) standards and/or other standards.

in some embodiments, the methods 800, 900 may also be applicable to anapparatus of an AP 502, an apparatus of a WUR non-AP STA 504, anapparatus of an STA 504 and/or an apparatus of another device. In someembodiments, an apparatus of an AP 502 may perform one or moreoperations of the method 800 and/or other operations. In someembodiments, an apparatus of an WUR non-AP STA 504 may perform one ormore operations of the method 900 and/or other operations.

It should also be noted that embodiments are not limited by referencesherein (such as in descriptions of the methods 800, 900 and/or otherdescriptions herein) to transmission, reception and/or exchanging ofelements such as frames, messages, requests, indicators, signals orother elements. In some embodiments, such an element may be generated,encoded or otherwise processed by processing circuitry (such as by abaseband processor included in the processing circuitry) fortransmission. The transmission may be performed by a transceiver orother component, in some cases. In some embodiments, such an element maybe decoded, detected or otherwise processed by the processing circuitry(such as by the baseband processor). The element may be received by atransceiver or other component, in some cases. In some embodiments, theprocessing circuitry and the transceiver may be included in a sameapparatus. The scope of embodiments is not limited in this respect,however, as the transceiver may be separate from the apparatus thatcomprises the processing circuitry, in some embodiments.

One or more of the elements (such as messages, operations and/or other)described herein may be included in a standard and/or protocol,including but not limited to WLAN, IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.11ax and/orother. The scope of embodiments is not limited to usage of thoseelements, however. In some embodiments, different elements, similarelements, alternate elements and/or other elements may be used. Thescope of embodiments is also not limited to usage of elements that areincluded in standards.

At operation 805, the AP 502 may determine that a WLAN radio 505 of aWUR non-AP STA 504 is to wake up. In some embodiments, the AP 502 maydetermine that WLAN radios of one or more WUR non-AP STAs 504 are towake up.

At operation 810, the AP 502 may generate a non-WUR portion of a WURpacket. At operation 815, the AP 502 may generate a WUR portion of theWUR packet. At operation 820, the AP 502 may transmit the WUR packet. Atoperation 825, the AP 502 may transmit one or more data packets.

In some embodiments, the AP 502 may transmit, to a wake-up receiver(WURx) 506 of a WUR non-AP STA 504, a wake-up radio (WUR) packet to wakeup a WLAN radio 505 of the WUR non-AP STA 504. In some embodiments, theAP 502 may encode a non-WUR portion of the WUR packet to include one ormore of: a legacy short training field (L-STF), a legacy long trainingfield (L-LTF), a legacy signal field (L-SIG), a binary phase-shiftkeying (BPSK) mark and/or other field(s). In some embodiments, the BPSKmark is to spoof high throughput (HT) devices receiving the WUR packet.In some embodiments, the AP 502 may transmit the BPSK mark in a channelthat includes a lower guard band, a transmission bandwidth, and an upperguard band. In some embodiments, the AP 502 may encode the BPSK mark inaccordance with: on-off keying (OOK) modulation in a center portion ofthe transmission bandwidth; and orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexing (OFDM) in a remaining portion of the transmission bandwidththat excludes the center portion. In some embodiments, the remainingportion of the transmission bandwidth may be divided into datasubcarriers. In some embodiments, BPSK symbols and/or other symbols maybe mapped to the data subcarriers.

In some embodiments, the AP 502 may encode the non-WUR portion of theWUR packet to include the BPSK mark to spoof the HT devices to detectthe WUR packet as a non-HT packet. In some embodiments, the AP 502 mayencode the non-WUR portion of the WUR packet to include the BPSK mark tospoof the HT devices from detection of a first symbol of the WURpreamble as rotated BPSK.

In some embodiments, the AP 502 may encode a WUR preamble and a WURpayload for inclusion in a WUR portion of the WUR packet. In someembodiments, the WUR preamble and the WUR payload may be encoded inaccordance with OOK modulation. In some embodiments, the WUR preamble isto be detected by the WURx 506 after the WUR non-AP STA 504 transitionsfrom a WURx doze state to a WURx awake state. In some embodiments, theWUR preamble may indicate, to the WURx 506, to decode the WUR payloadwhile the WUR non-AP STA 504 is in the WURx awake state.

In some embodiments, the remaining portion of the transmission bandwidththat excludes the center portion may further include one or more of: afirst WUR guard band immediately below the center portion in frequency;a second WUR guard band immediately above the center portion infrequency; and/or other. In some embodiments, the AP 502 may refrainfrom mapping symbols to the first and second WUR guard bands in the BPSKmark.

In some embodiments, the AP 502 may perform one or more of theoperations described herein in accordance with one or more of thefollowing: the channel may be of bandwidth of 20 MHz; the datasubcarriers are spaced by 312.5 kHz; the BPSK mark is of duration equalto 4 usec; the transmission bandwidth includes 53 data subcarriers; thecenter portion of the transmission bandwidth spans 13 data subcarriers.It should be noted that embodiments are not limited to example numbersand sizes described herein, such as those given above. For instance,embodiments are not limited to the bandwidths, subcarrier spacing,duration, sizes (in terms of number of subcarriers), and other aspectsof the above.

In some embodiments, the AP 502 may encode the BPSK mark based on apredetermined OOK pattern.

In some embodiments, the AP 502 may encode the L-SIG based on a patternof symbols mapped to 53 subcarriers that corresponds to the transmissionbandwidth of the BPSK mark, and further based on another 4 bits mappedto 4 extra subcarriers in the lower guard band and/or upper guard band.In some embodiments, the AP 502 may encode the BPSK mark based on aplurality of encoded bits mapped to the 4 extra subcarriers. It shouldbe noted that embodiments are not limited to example numbers and sizesdescribed herein, such as those given above. For instance, embodimentsare not limited to the bandwidths, subcarrier spacing, duration, sizes(in terms of number of subcarriers), and other aspects of the above.

In some embodiments, the AP 502 may encode the BPSK mark in accordancewith OOK, modulation in the center portion of the transmission bandwidthto extend a WUR synchronization portion of the WUR preamble. In someembodiments, the AP 502 may encode the BPSK mark in accordance with 00Kmodulation in the center portion of the transmission bandwidth to enableautomatic gain control (AGC) settling, detection of the WUR payload, orin WUR synchronization.

In some embodiments, the AP 502 may encode the WUR packet to wake up theWLAN radio 505 of the WUR non-AP STA 504 for reception of a data packetfrom the AP 502. In some embodiments, the AP 502 may encode the datapacket for transmission to the WUR non-AP STA 504.

In some embodiments, the AP 502 may encode, for transmission to awake-up receiver (WURx) 506 of a WUR non-AP STA 504, a WUR packet towake up a WLAN radio 505 of the WUR non-AP STA 504, In some embodiments,the AP 502 may encode a non-WUR portion of the WUR packet to include oneor more of: a legacy short training field (L-STF), a legacy longtraining field (L-LTF), a legacy signal field (L-SIG), a binaryphase-shift keying (BPSK) mark, and/or other. In some embodiments, theBPSK mark may be to spoof high throughput (HT) devices receiving the WURpacket.

In some embodiments, the AP 502 may encode the L-SIG for OFDMtransmission in a channel that includes a lower guard hand, atransmission bandwidth, and an upper guard band. In some embodiments,the AP 502 may encode the BPSK mark for OFDM transmission in at least aportion of the transmission bandwidth. In some embodiments, the AP 502may extend the L-SIG by mapping one or more predetermined symbols to oneor more extra subcarriers within the lower guard band and/or upper guardhand. In some embodiments, the AP 502 may extend the BPSK mark bymapping one or more encoded symbols to the extra subcarriers.

In some embodiments, the AP 502 may encode the L-SIG based on one ormore of: a pattern of symbols mapped to 53 subcarriers of thetransmission bandwidth; another 4 bits mapped to 4 extra subcarriers inthe lower guard band and/or upper guard band; and/or other. In someembodiments, the AP 502 may encode the BPSK mark based on one or moreof: encoded bits mapped to at least a portion of the 53 subcarriers ofthe transmission bandwidth; encoded bits mapped to the 4 extrasubcarriers; and/or other. In some embodiments, the AP 502 may generatethe encoded bits that are mapped at least a portion of the 53subcarriers of the transmission bandwidth based on signaling bitsintended for the WURx. It should be noted that embodiments are notlimited to example numbers and sizes described herein, such as thosegiven above. For instance, embodiments are not limited to thebandwidths, subcarrier spacing, duration, sizes (in terms of number ofsubcarriers), and other aspects of the above.

In some embodiments, the AP 502 may encode the WUR packet to include aWUR preamble immediately after the BPSK mark. In some embodiments, theAP 502 may encode the BPSK mark in accordance with OOK modulation in thecenter portion of the transmission bandwidth to extend a WURsynchronization portion of the WUR preamble.

In some embodiments, the AP 502 may encode a WUR packet to wake up oneor WLAN radios 505 of one or more WUR non-AP STAs 504. In someembodiments, each of one or more WUR non-AP STAs 504 may comprise a WURx506 and a WLAN radio 505. The AP 502 may encode the WUR packet to, foreach of one or more WUR non-AP STAs 504, wake up the WLAN radio 505 ofthe WUR non-AP STA 504.

In some embodiments, the AP 502 may encode a WUR portion of the WURpacket as low data rate (LDR) or high data rate (LDR). In someembodiments, the AP 502 may, if the WUR portion is encoded as LDR,encode the WUR packet to include a legacy portion followed by the WURportion. In some embodiments, the AP 502 may encode the WUR portion toinclude a WUR preamble and a WUR payload. In some embodiments, the WURportion may be intended to wake up the WLAN radio 505 of one of the WURnon-AP STAs 504. In some embodiments, the AP 502 may, if the WUR portionis encoded as HDR: encode the WUR packet to include a legacy portionfollowed by multiple WUR portions time-multiplexed within the WMportion. In some embodiments, the AP 502 may encode each of the WURportions to include a WUR preamble and a WUR payload. In someembodiments, each of the WUR portions may be intended to wake up theWLAN radio 505 of one of the MIR non-AP STAs 504.

In some embodiments, the AP 502 may pad the WUR packet in accordancewith a predetermined length. In some embodiments, the AP 502 may, if theWUR portion is encoded as LDR, and if a combined length of the legacyportion and the WM portion is less than a threshold, generate a paddingportion to follow the WUR portion.

In some embodiments, the AP 502 may In some embodiments, the AP 502 may,if the WUR portion is encoded as LDR, and if a combined length of thelegacy portion and the multiple WUR portions is less than the threshold,generate a padding portion to follow the WUR portions.

In some embodiments, the AP 502 may encode the legacy portion of the WURpacket to include at least a legacy short training field (L-STF), alegacy long training field (L-LTF), and a legacy signal field (L-SIG)

In some embodiments, the AP 502 may encode the L-SIG to indicate aspecified length for all WUR packets. In some embodiments, the AP 502may determine a length of the WUR packet based on: if the WUR portion isencoded as LDR, a sum of a length of the legacy portion and a length ofthe WUR portion; or if the WUR portion is encoded as HDR, a sum of thelength of the legacy portion and lengths of the multiple WUR portions.In some embodiments, the AP 502 may, if the determined length of the WURpacket is less than the specified length of all WUR packets, generatepadding for the WUR packet by repetition of a Manchester on-off keying(OOK) waveform used for an information bit of value equal to 1. In someembodiments, the information bit of value 1 may correspond to an encodedbit pair of [0, 1].

In some embodiments, an apparatus of an AP 502 may comprise memory. Thememory may be configurable to store information related to the WURpacket. The memory may store one or more other elements and theapparatus may use them for performance of one or more operations. Theapparatus may include processing circuitry, which may perform one ormore operations (including but not limited to operation(s) of the method800 and/or other methods described herein). The processing circuitry mayinclude a baseband processor. The baseband circuitry and/or theprocessing circuitry may perform one or more operations describedherein, including but not limited to encoding of the WUR packet. Theapparatus may include a transceiver to transmit the WUR packet. Thetransceiver may transmit and/or receive other blocks, messages and/orother elements.

At operation 905, the WUR non-AP STA 504 may receive a WUR packet. Atoperation 910, the WUR non-AP STA 504 may determine whether the WURpacket indicates that a WLAN radio 505 of the WUR non-AP STA 504 is towake up. At operation 915, the WM non-AP STA 504 may if it is determinedthat the WLAN radio 505 of the WUR non-AP STA 504 is to wake up, receivea data packet while the WUR. non-AP STA 504 is in a WURx awake state.

In some embodiments, an apparatus of a WUR non-AP STA 504 may comprisememory. The memory may be configurable to store information related tothe WUR packet. The memory may store one or more other elements and theapparatus may use them for performance of one or more operations. Theapparatus may include processing circuitry, which may perform one ormore operations (including but not limited to operation(s) of the method900 and/or other methods described herein). The processing circuitry mayinclude a baseband processor. The baseband circuitry and/or theprocessing circuitry may perform one or more operations describedherein, including but not limited to decoding of the WUR packet. Theapparatus may include a transceiver to receive the WUR packet. Thetransceiver may transmit and/or receive other blocks, messages and/orother elements.

FIG. 10 illustrates example wake up radio (WUR) packets and fields inaccordance with some embodiments. FIG. 11 illustrates example WURpackets and fields in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 12illustrates example WUR packets and fields in accordance with someembodiments. FIG. 13 illustrates an example WUR packet and examplefields in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 14 illustrates anexample in the frequency domain for WUR packet transmission inaccordance with some embodiments. FIG. 15 illustrates an example in thefrequency domain for WM packet transmission in accordance with someembodiments.

It should be noted that the examples shown in FIGS. 10-15 may illustratesome or all of the concepts and techniques described herein in somecases, but embodiments are not limited by the examples. For instance,embodiments are not limited by the name, number, type, size, ordering,arrangement of elements (such as devices, operations, messages and/orother elements) shown in FIGS. 10-15. Although some of the elementsshown in the examples of Ms. 10-15 may be included in a WLAN standard,Wi-Fi standard, 802.11 standard, 802.11ax standard and/or otherstandard, embodiments are not limited to usage of such elements that areincluded in standards.

In some cases, Low Power Wake-Up Receiver (LP-WUR) techniques may enablelow power and low-latency operation for Wi-Fi. In some embodiments, acompanion radio (such as the WURx 506) may be coupled to a main radio(such as the WLAN radio 505) and may have reduced capabilities and/orminimum capabilities. The WURx 506 may receive a wake-up packet from theAP 502 when there is a packet that is available for the WLAN radio 505.The WLAN radio 505 may remain in a low power mode (such as a WUR mode)while WUR is enabled and may not need to periodically listen to themedia for the possible reception of a packet. Thereby significant powersavings may be achieved without additional latency, in some cases.

In some embodiments, the transmitter may have a wake-up radio with bothtransmitting and receiving capabilities. In some embodiments, at thereceiver side (the Wi-Fi STA having both Wi-Fi and. LP-WURxcapabilities), only the receiving operation will be implemented, and dueto this reason, it is called a wake-up receiver (WURx) at the receiverside.

In some embodiments, the 802.11 ba specification will adopt FDMAtransmission of multiple WUR frames in different 20 MHz channels. Anexample 1000 is shown in FIG, 10 for FDMA MU WUR OOK transmission usingan 80 MHz bandwidth.

The 802.11ba standard supports different data rates. This may cause thefollowing problem. The WUR frames in each 20 MHz portion may havedifferent durations due to different lengths of the WUR frames ordifferent data rate of WUR frames on the different 20 MHz channels. Toprevent any 3rd party STA 504 operating on 20 or 40 MHz from sensing anidle channel in one of these channels and doing channel access, the endof WUR transmissions should be aligned. This in particular isproblematic in the primary channel when a STA 504 within the BSS of theAP 502 may attempt to transmit an uplink frame to its associated AP 502while the AP 502 is still busy transmitting WUR packets in non-primarychannels. The end of packet alignment in non-primary channels is alsoimportant for the STAs 504 which are assessing the channel activity overa wideband or for OBSS stations.

In some embodiments, a padding technique (which may include aspectsrelated to the content of the padding bits and the time granularitywhich would be suitable for the WUR receivers and transmitter) may beused. In some embodiments, a method may be used to fill the duration oftransmission, instead of unused bits, using the time to transmit one ormore WUR packets (most likely high data rate WUR packets). This can beviewed as aggregated WUR in time domain or time multiplexing of WURs.

in some cases, proposed padding processes may reduce the complexity oftransmitter and receiver, thereby enables a cost effective solution. Insome cases, transmission of aggregated WURs or time-multiplexed WURs mayenable better spectrum utilization instead of filling the transmissionduration with dummy data. In some cases, information encoded in BPSKMark may enable 11ax+/XT devices to perform early classification ofFDMA-WUR packet and as a result may enable them to go to power save modeupon start of WUR portion. In some cases, battery life may be extended.

The current draft of 802.11ba specification (Draft 0.2) defines twopossible data rates 62.5 kb/s and 250 kb/s, which are differentiated bythe pre-defined sequence in the Wake-Up Radio Synchronization (WUR-Sync) field. The WUR packet structure 1100 is shown in FIG. 11.Manchester-based code is applied to both WUR data rates. MulticarrierOn-Off Keying (MC-OOK) is used for modulation of both WUR data rates.This means that encoded bits 0 and 1 are represented by OFF and ONsymbols, respectively. The duration of the MC-OOK symbol correspondingto each encoded bit is dependent on WUR data rate: 4 μs for WUR Low DataRate (WUR-LDR) and 2 μs for WUR High Data Rate (WUR-HDR). The MC-OOKsymbol corresponding to each input bit 0 and 1 for WUR-LDR is 1010 and0101, respectively. The MC-OOK modulated symbol corresponding to eachinput bit 0 and 1 for WUR HDR is 10 and 01, respectively.

From the above definition for WUR-LDR & WUR-HDR, we can see that thetime granularity of the WUR symbol is 4 μs (each info bit in HDR is 4 μs[2 μs ON, 2 μs OFF] or [2 μs ON, 2 μs OFF] and the preamble differenceis 64 μs), and hence we define the granularity of padding to also be 4μs, i.e., the padding length is a multiple of 4 μs, and is defined inunits of 4 μs. Also, equivalently, it can be defined as 2 μs; notingthat two of the padding units will make one 4 μs unit. This is in casepadding is going to be defined in the units of HDR preamble time unit.In addition, we note that WUR receivers search for WUR-Sync to find thestart of WUR detection. It is important that padded bits (unused data)are not mistakenly detected as WUR-Sync to prevent false alarm in WURreceivers. To reduce and minimize such a false alarm rate, we propose topad a packet with all ON symbols without use of Manchester coding.

In some cases, the time duration of a WUR-LDR packet is almost fourtimes the duration of the WUR-HDR packet for the same number ofinformation bits. Hence, if an FDMA transmission includes mix of WUR-LDRand WUR-HDR packets, then the WUR-HDR 20 MHz channel would require ahuge amount of padding bits, which we propose to replace with atransmission of 1 to 3 more additional WUR-HDR packets. These WUR-HDRsare transmitted back to back. Each of these packets will start with theWUR-Sync, but will not require the addition of Legacy preamble. Anon-limiting example 1200 is shown in FIG. 12.

In some embodiments, the end of packet alignment in FDMA. WUR may beaddressed by (a) defining padded bits as 2 ∞s ON OOK symbols and (b)replacing padding with transmission of more WUR packets in an aggregatedfashion when legacy preamble and BPSK Mark are not included forsubsequent WUR transmission.

The WURx 506 may be a companion radio to the main Wi-Fi radio (such asWLAN radio 505), with a capability of receiving short messages. It mayenable the main Wi-Fi radio go to sleep, thereby achieving significantpower savings without additional latency. As a result, it is veryattractive for IoT and Wearable applications and generally in densedeployments. It was introduced to the IEEE 802.11 standards andsubsequently a task group was created (TGba). The use cases for 802.11bahave been extended to support a scanning and discovery operation, Forhandoff purposes, currently the devices must use the main radio to tuneoff the channel and scan for neighbor channels. With Low Power-WUR, thedevices can continue using the main radio for ongoing communication andthe WUR can be used for scanning and discovery.

In 802.11ba, the packet that has been adopted comprises a legacy portionfor deferral of legacy devices, followed by a BPSK mark symbol which isfollowed by the WUR preamble and WUR data symbols. The BPSK mark is toaid auto detection for legacy devices so they properly defer. In someembodiments, the BPSK mark may be a single 20-MHz OFDM symbol with BPSKmodulation. In some cases, dummy bits may be used in this field, sinceit cannot be decoded by the WUR, and cannot be understood by legacysystems. In some embodiments, the symbol may be utilized to conveyinformation to either the WUR, or to next generation systems. In someembodiments, a design may allow both WUR signaling and Next Generationsignaling.

In some embodiments, the BPSK mark symbol may use a subcarrier spacingof 312.5 kHz and a duration of 4 μs. Several methods are proposed below,and are referred to for clarity, and without limitation, as “method #1,”“method #2,” and “method #3.”

in method #1, the BPSK mark is encoded with known bits (signaling data)which enables11ax+/XT devices to perform early classification of the WURpacket and as a result enables them to go to power save mode upon startof WUR portion, The main advantage is extending their battery life. Thiswould be different from the current approach of just sending a set of“dummy” bits. Here several bits could be utilized for signaling of nextgen devices. This also provides a way for next gen WUR designs to beoptimized.

In method #2, the symbol sends BPSK data on all of the data subcarriersexcept for the inner 13 subcarriers. These inner subcarriers will carrya WUR symbol. Meaning the inner 13 tones would have a fixed On-OffKeying symbol that could be utilized by the WUR to extend the WUR syncportion of the symbol. This could be used by the WUR to aid in early AGCsettling, aid in WUR packet detection, aid in WUR synchronization.

in method #3, there are a few guard subcarriers allocated between theinner WUR subcarriers (on-off keying modulated) and the PCR BPSKmodulated subcarriers. The inner 13 subcarriers are modulated usingOn-Off Keying, then there will be TBD subcarriers that are nulledfollowed by the remaining subcarriers which are modulated with BPSK datathat would be utilized by next generation systems to aid in early autodetection.

In some embodiments, four tones are added to L_SIG portion to allowinclusion of 4 data subcarriers for BPSK mark. This follows a similarmethod to the one proposed in 1 lax to extend data subcarriers inHE-SIGA. In 11ax the subcarriers where added to L-SIG and. RL-SIG forchannel estimation prior to HE-SIGA with needed repetition to match therange of L-LTF repeated symbols. However 11ax+/XT device may not needthe repetition in terms of their range relative to WUR. Therefore theextra four tones in L-SIG are used for channel estimation, and they areused in BPSK mark for added information bits.

Potential advantages of populating the BPSK mark with data are describedbelow. First, for the BPSK data subcarriers, they can be used by NextGeneration (11ax-XT) devices to perform early classification of the WURpacket and as a result enables them to go to power save mode upon startof WUR portion. Another potential advantage is extending their batterylife. Second, populating the inner 13 subcarriers of the BPSK mark witha WUR On-Off Keying symbol helps the WUR by aiding that receiver fordetection and acquisition.

The current draft of 802.11ba specification (Draft 0.2) defines packetthat has been adopted consists of a legacy portion for deferral oflegacy devices, this is followed by a BPSK mark symbol which is followedby the WUR preamble and WUR data symbols. The currently specified packetstructure for 802.11ba is shown in FIG. 13. The BPSK mark is to aid autodetection for legacy devices so they properly defer. At this point inthe discussion and design, there has been no discussion of the contentsof the BPSK mark. The BPSK mark is defined in the current 802.11ba draftspecification as “a single 20-MHz OFDM symbol with BPSK modulation. Thevalues of the BPSK subcarriers are TBD.” Currently the discussion hasbeen around to just use dummy bits in this field, since it cannot bedecoded by the WUR, and cannot be understood by legacy systems.

In method #1, the BPSK mark is encoded with known bits (signaling data)which enables 11ax+/XT devices to perform early classification of theWUR packet and as a result enables them to go to power save mode uponstart of WUR portion, The main advantage is extending their batterylife. We also suggest to add four tones to L_SIG portion to allowinclusion of 4 data subcarriers for BPSK mark. This follows a similarmethod to the one proposed in 11ax to extend data subcarriers inHE-SIGA. In 11ax the subcarriers where added to L-SIG and RL-SIG forchannel estimation prior to HE-SIGA with needed repetition to match therange of L-LTF repeated symbols. However 11ax+/XT device may not needthe repetition in terms of their range relative to WUR. Therefore theextra four tones in L-SIG are used for channel estimation, and they areassigned in the BPSK mark symbol for added information bits.

in method #2, the symbol sends BPSK data on all of the data subcarriersexcept for the inner 13 subcarriers. These inner subcarriers will carrya WUR symbol, Meaning the inner 13 tones would have a fixed On-OffKeying symbol that could be utilized by the WUR to extend the WUR syncportion of the symbol. This could be used by the WUR to aid in early AGCsettling, aid in WUR packet detection, aid in WUR synchronization.

In method #3, there are a few guard subcarriers allocated between theinner WUR subcarriers (on-off keying modulated) and the PCR BPSKmodulated subcarriers. The inner 13 subcarriers are modulated usingOn-Off Keying, then there will be TBD subcarriers that are nulledfollowed by the remaining subcarriers which are modulated with BPSK datathat would be utilized by next generation systems to aid in early autodetection.

In method #1, the BPSK mark has known (signaling data to Next Gendevices) data bits which is interleaved and then rate ½ BCC encoded,exactly like the L-SIG. In this approach, it is composed of 24 bitsinformation bits or 26 bits information bits when the extra four tonesare added to L-SIG. The detailed definition of its fields is beyond thescope of this IDF. However, it is predicted that 1 or more bits are usedto signal the packet type as FDMA-WUR, and 2 bits are used to carry thebandwidth of FDMA WUR.

In method #2, the BPSK mark has its data subcarriers split into twogroups. The approach is illustrated in FIG. 14. The first group includes40 (or 44) subcarriers used for signaling next gen devices using BPSKmodulated, code rate=½ BCC encoded data bits. The second group includes13 subcarriers (including DC which is nulled in 11ba), which aremodulated using On-Off Keying. The current 11ba specification hasadopted the 13 subcarriers using on-off keying as the waveform. Thuspopulating these subcarriers will enable this symbol to look like thestart of the WUR preamble, instead of the symbol after the BPSK Mark.This provides 1 additional WUR bit periods (4 μs). The use of the symbolat this point is beyond the scope of this IDE. In some embodiments, theycould be either [2 us on, 2 us off], or [2 us off, 2 us on].

Using the inner 13 subcarriers this way will not impact the detection ofa BPSK symbol by legacy devices. The legacy devices will be classifyingthis symbol as BPSK as opposed to a rotated BPSK as long as the outer 40(44 with four added tones) subcarriers are normal BPSK modulatedsubcarriers. The BPSK mark was added to 0.11ba to prevent 802.11ndevices from detecting the first symbol of the WUR preamble as rotatedBPSK (4 us of On in 4 MHz with the rest of the 20 MHz being noise). Thushaving a BPSK mark makes the 0.11n devices (and other legacy devices)classify this WUR packet not a 0.11n/0.11ac/0.11ax packet. In additionthe central 4 MHz WUR can be formed by populating 13 subcarriers withBPSK values (DC is nulled). The detection of this at Wi-Fi devices isvery reliable and follows the normal BPSK vs. rotated BPSK testing bycomparing in-phase energy to quadrature. For example, the detection ofBPSK would be on the order of 14 dB better than detecting a bit in theL-SIG. Thus, using 12 of the subcarriers would result in a degradationon the order of 2.5 dB. Therefore it should have no impact those devicescorrectly classifying based on this symbol. The On-Off keying nature ofthe 0.11ba symbol on the inner carriers should not results in anyadditional degradation. If the On-Off keying is done using BPSK, therewill be even less degradation. If QPSK is ultimately chosen in 0.11ba,then there will be energy in both I and Q, so the net degradation willnot increase.

In method #3, again a mix of BPSK and WUR On-Off keying is used, but inthis case some tone are removed from the BPSK signaling to provide guardto the On-Off keying. As a note, if the WUR bit used employs Manchestercoding, then the adjacent interference to the On portion to the Offportion can be cancelled. This concept is shown in FIG. 15. Having someguard will improve the detection of the On-Off keying bits for the WUR.The WUR is targeted to be a very low cost device, where the device willnot detect data as well as the primary radio, and can be affected byadjacent signals. In FIG. 15, an approach is illustrated in which thedata subcarriers are split amount BPSK bits for a PCR and On-Off keyingbits for the WUR, in addition to some guard subcarriers for the WUR.

The approaches above provide a means to provide and additional On-Offkeying WUR symbol using the BPSK mark. The use of the symbols at thispoint is beyond the scope of this IDF. The preferred embodiment is todesign this extra symbol in order to enable the WUR to aid in early AGCsettling, aid in WUR packet detection or aid in WUR synchronization. Theapproach also allows for the BPSK mark symbol to provide extra signalingwhich would be used by future Wi-Fi systems to aid in the earlyclassification of a WUR packet and as a result enables them to go topower save mode upon start of WUR portion. The main advantage isextending their battery life.

In some embodiments, four tones may be added to L_SIG portion of theLegacy preamble to allow inclusion of 4 data subcarriers for BPSK mark.This follows a similar method to the one proposed in 11ax to extend datasubcarriers in HE-SIGA. The extra four tones in L-SIG could be used forchannel estimation, and they are assigned in the BPSK mark symbol foradded information bits.

A Wake-Up Receiver (WUR) is a companion radio to the main Wi-Fi radio,with a capability of receiving short control messages. It enables themain Wi-Fi radio go to sleep, thereby achieving significant powersavings without additional latency. As a result, it is very attractivefor IoT and Wearable applications and generally in dense deployments. Itwas introduced to the IEEE 802.11 standards and subsequently a taskgroup was created (TGba). The use cases for 802.11ba have been extendedto support a scanning and discovery operation. For handoff purposes,currently the devices must use the main radio to tune off the channeland scan for neighbor channels. With Low Power-WUR, the devices cancontinue using the main radio for ongoing communication and the WUR canbe used for scanning and discovery.

The packet that has been adopted for 802.11ba includes a legacy portionfor deferral of legacy devices, which is followed by a BPSK mark symbolwhich is followed by the WUR preamble and WUR data symbols. The BPSKmark is to aid auto detection for legacy devices so they properly defer.The BPSK mark is defined in the current 0.11ba. draft specification as“a single 20-MHz OFDM symbol with rate ½ coded BPSK modulation. In somecases, dummy bits may be used in this field, since it cannot be decodedby the WUR, and cannot be understood by legacy systems. In someembodiments, the symbol may convey information to next generationsystems. A potential issue with usage of undefined dummy bits is thatwhen WUR devices are deployed, each vendor may set its own set of dummybits and may make it impossible for future amendments to define anddetect useful information.

The BPSK mark symbol will use a subcarrier spacing of 312.5 kHz and aduration of 4 us. In some cases, the BPSK mark symbol may be populatedwith dummy bits. A potential reason is that the use for the BPSK mark isfor legacy devices to auto detect and properly defer. So it cannot beused solely as a narrowband WUR symbol, and cannot carry any informationthat could be utilized by the legacy devices since they will assumeeither it is an 0.11a packet or 11ax packet and defer (not decode theBPSK mark).

In some embodiments, the BPSK mark may be encoded with known bits(signaling data) which enables EHT devices to perform earlyclassification of the WUR packet and as a result enables them to actappropriately, for example, go to power save mode upon start of WURportion. The main advantage is utilizing spectrum more efficiently andextending the battery life of future devices. This would be differentfrom an approach of just sending a set of “dummy” bits. Here severalbits could be utilized for signaling of next gen devices. This alsoprovides a way for next gen WUR designs to be optimized.

In addition, four tones may be added to L-SIG portion to allow inclusionof 4 data subcarriers for BPSK mark. This follows a similar method tothe one proposed in flax to extend data subcarriers in HE-SIGA. In 11axthe subcarriers where added to L-SIG and RL-SIG for channel estimationprior to HE-SIGA with needed repetition to match the range of L-LTFrepeated symbols. However EHT device may not need the repetition interms of their range relative to WUR. Therefore the extra four tones inL-SIG are used for channel estimation, and they are used in BPSK markfor added information bits.

Potential advantages of populating the BPSK mark with known data/formatare that they can be used by Next Generation EHT devices to performearly classification of the WUR packet and as a result enables betterspectrum utilization and improved battery life. The information in BPSKmark can enable spatial reuse and/or can enable EHT devices to go topower save mode upon start of WUR portion.

In some embodiments, a packet in the 802.11ba specification (Draft 0.4)may include a legacy portion for deferral of legacy devices, which isfollowed by a BPSK mark symbol, which is followed by the WUR Sync andWUR data symbols. The currently specified packet structure for 802.11bais shown in FIG. 13. The BPSK mark is to aid auto detection for legacydevices so they properly defer. In some embodiments, the BPSK mark maybe a coded rate ½ OFDM symbol.

Several methods are proposed below, and are referred to for clarity, andwithout limitation, as “method #1 b,” and “method #2 b.” In method 1 b,the BPSK mark may be encoded with known and reserve bits, which enablesEHT to later define the reserve bits. The main advantage is managing theearly deployments of 11ba (WUR Release 1; also called Legacy WUR) andallowing use of these bits in EHT. In method 2 b, one or more fields maybe defined in EHT to enable spatial reuse and efficient spectrumutilization as well as improved battery life.

In some embodiments, four tones may be added to L-SIG portion to allowinclusion of 4 data subcarriers for BPSK mark. This follows a similarmethod to the one proposed in 11ax to extend data subcarriers inHE-SIGA. In 11ax the subcarriers where added to L-S1G and RL-SIG forchannel estimation prior to HE-SIGA with needed repetition to match therange of L-LTF repeated symbols. However EHT device may not need therepetition in terms of their range relative to WUR. Therefore the extrafour tones in L-SIG are used for channel estimation, and they areassigned in the BPSK mark symbol for added information bits.

In method 1 b, the following fields are defined for the BPSK Mark: a)type: 2 bits with specific value for example 11 to indicate “TGbarelease 1” where there is no EHT deployment yet; b) CRC: for example 6or 7 or 8 bits; c) the rest are reserved. As an alternative to theabove, the BPSK. Mark is not defined as a repeat of L-RIG (RL-SIG asdefined in 11ax), since EHT devices will decode Legacy WUR as 11ax andwill not leverage the mentioned advantages. The BPSK. Mark can be 180degree-phase-rotated repeat of L-SIG.

In method #2 b, which will be defined in EHT, the fields of BPSK Markare defined in a generic signaling to allow for power save and spatialreuse. An example is to define them similarly to 11ax, as follows: a)BSS color: e.g., 6 bits; b) UL/DL: e.g., 1 bit, c) TxOP duration(optional): e.g., 7 bits to enable protection (like NAV) for the entireTxOP (COT in ETSI BRAN terms); d) type: e.g., 3 bits (such as WUR, NR,EHT and/or other); e) CRC: e.g., 7 bits. The above is an example, but itis understood that the BPSK mark is not limited to the names, sizes (interms of bits and/or other), types and/or other aspects of the fieldsdescribed above. In some embodiments, the BPSK mark may not necessarilyinclude one or more of those fields. In some embodiments, the BPSK markmay include one or more additional fields. In some embodiments, aspecific value of BSS Color may indicate “no spatial reuse” and/orsimilar.

The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. Section 1.72(b)requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to ascertain the natureand gist of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with theunderstanding that it will not be used to limit or interpret the scopeor meaning of the claims. The following claims are hereby incorporatedinto the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as aseparate embodiment.

1. (canceled)
 2. An apparatus of a wake-up radio (WUR) access point (AP)(WUR AP), the apparatus comprising: processing circuitry; and memory,the processing circuitry configured to: encode a WUR frequency divisionmultiple access (FDMA) physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP)protocol data unit (PPDU) (WUR FDMA PPDU) for transmission on a 40 MHzchannel bandwidth comprising two contiguous 20 MHz subchannels, the WURFDMA PPDU comprising a WUR transmission on each of the contiguous 20 MHzsubchannels, the WUR FDMA PPDU comprising a preamble and an FDMA WURportion following the preamble, and the FDMA WUR portion comprising aWUR synchronization field (WUR-Sync) followed by a WUR data field(WUR-Data) encoded for transmission on each 20 MHz subchannel, whereineach WUR synchronization field indicates a data rate applied to the WURdata field which follows the WUR synchronization on an associated one ofthe 20 MHz subchannels, and the data rate comprises either a WURlow-data rate (WUR LDR) or a WUR high-data rate (WUR HDR), wherein thepreamble comprises a legacy signal field (L-SIG) indicating a length ofthe WUR FDMA PPDU, wherein the WUR synchronization field and the WURdata field comprise multicarrier on-off keying (MC-OOK) waveforms,wherein the processing circuitry is configured to modulate data for theWUR data field using MC-OOK modulation in accordance with either the WURLDR or the WUR HDR, and wherein the processing circuitry is furtherconfigured to determine if padding is needed for any of the 20 MHzchannels of the WUR FDMA PPDU based on whether a duration of the WURtransmission on any of the 20 MHZ subchannels is shorter than the lengthindicated by the L-SIG, wherein if padding is needed on any of the 20MHz subchannels, the processing circuitry is configured to generate apadding waveform by repeating the MC-OOK waveform corresponding to aninformation bit having a value of one modulated in accordance with theWUR HDR, the padding waveform to be transmitted after the WUR data fieldon each of the 20 MHz subchannels determined to need padding.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2, wherein the WUR synchronization field comprises apredetermined sequence modulated in accordance with the MC-OOK waveform,and wherein the WUR data field comprises encoded bits modulated inaccordance with the MC-OOC waveform.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2,wherein the processing circuitry is configured to encode informationbits to generate encoded bits, the encoded bits to be represented by onand off symbols of the MC-OOK waveform, wherein the WUR-Data field forthe WUR LDR, each symbol is configured to have a 4-microsecond duration,and wherein the WUR Data field for the WUR HDR, each symbol isconfigured to have a 2-microsecond duration.
 5. The apparatus of claim4, wherein for the WUR LDR, the WUR data field is configured to betransmitted at a data rate of 62.5 kb/s, and wherein for the WUR HDR,the WUR data field is configured to be transmitted at a data rate of 250kb/s.
 6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein if padding is determined to beneeded on a 20 MHz subchannel in which the WUR data field is to betransmitted in accordance with the WUR LDR, the processing circuitry isconfigured to generate the padding waveform by repeating the MC-OOCwaveform of a WUR HDR information bit having a value of one.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 6 wherein if padding is determined to be needed on a20 MHz subchannel in which the WUR data field is to be transmitted inaccordance with the WUR HDR, the processing circuitry is configured togenerate the padding waveform by repeating the MC-OOC waveform of a WURHDR information bit having a value of one.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7,wherein the information bit of value 1 corresponds to an encoded bitpair of [0,1].
 9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the padding waveformis to be transmitted after the WUR data field on each of the 20 MHzsubchannels determined to need padding to lengthen the WUR transmissionup to the length indicated by the L-SIG.
 10. The apparatus of claim 2wherein the preamble of the WUR FDMA PPDU comprises a preamble portionthat is duplicated for concurrent transmission on each 20 MHz channel,wherein the preambles comprise orthogonal frequency division multiplexed(OFDM) signals.
 11. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the preamblecomprises a binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) mark field (BPSK-Mark)following the L-SIG, the BPSK mark field to spoof high throughput (HT)stations (STAs) from false PPDU format detection.
 12. The apparatus ofclaim 2, wherein the WUR FDMA PPDU is configured to wake-up a WUR non-APstation.
 13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium thatstores instructions for execution by processing circuitry of a wake-upradio (WUR) access point (AP) (WUR AP), the processing circuitryconfigured to: encode a WUR frequency division multiple access (FDMA)physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU)(WUR FDMA PPDU) for transmission on a 40 MHz channel bandwidthcomprising two contiguous 20 MHz subchannels, the WUR FDMA PPDUcomprising a WUR transmission on each of the contiguous 20 MHzsubchannels, the WUR FDMA PPDU comprising a preamble and an FDMA WURportion following the preamble, and the FDMA WUR portion comprising aWUR synchronization field (WUR-Sync) followed by a WUR data field(WUR-Data) encoded for transmission on each 20 MHz subchannel, whereineach WUR synchronization field indicates a data rate applied to the WURdata field which follows the WUR synchronization on an associated one ofthe 20 MHz subchannels, and the data rate comprises either a WURlow-data rate (WUR LDR) or a WUR high-data rate (WUR HDR), wherein thepreamble comprises a legacy signal field (L-SIG) indicating a length ofthe WUR FDMA PPDU, wherein the WUR synchronization field and the WURdata field comprise multicarrier on-off keying (MC-OOK) waveforms,wherein the processing circuitry is configured to modulate data for theWUR data field using MC-OOK modulation in accordance with either the WURLDR or the WUR HDR, and wherein the processing circuitry is furtherconfigured to determine if padding is needed for any of the 20 MHzchannels of the WUR FDMA PPDU based on whether a duration of the WURtransmission on any of the 20 MHZ subchannels is shorter than the lengthindicated by the L-SIG, wherein if padding is needed on any of the 20MHz subchannels, the processing circuitry is configured to generate apadding waveform by repeating the MC-OOK waveform corresponding to aninformation bit having a value of one modulated in accordance with theWUR HDR, the padding waveform to be transmitted after the WUR data fieldon each of the 20 MHz subchannels determined to need padding.
 14. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein theWUR synchronization field comprises a predetermined sequence modulatedin accordance with the MC-OOK waveform, and wherein the WUR data fieldcomprises encoded bits modulated in accordance with the MC-OOC waveform.15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13,wherein the processing circuitry is configured to encode informationbits to generate encoded bits, the encoded bits to be represented by onand off symbols of the MC-OOK waveform, wherein the WUR-Data field forthe WUR LDR, each symbol is configured to have a 4-microsecond duration,and wherein the WUR Data field for the WUR HDR, each symbol isconfigured to have a 2-microsecond duration.
 16. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein for the WUR LDR,the WUR data field is configured to be transmitted at a data rate of62.5 kb/s, and wherein for the WUR HDR, the WUR data field is configuredto be transmitted at a data rate of 250 kb/s.
 17. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein if padding isdetermined to be needed on a 20 MHz subchannel in which the WUR datafield is to be transmitted in accordance with the WUR LDR, theprocessing circuitry is configured to generate the padding waveform byrepeating the MC-OOC waveform of a WUR HDR information bit having avalue of one.
 18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 17 wherein if padding is determined to be needed on a 20 MHzsubchannel in which the WUR data field is to be transmitted inaccordance with the WUR HDR, the processing circuitry is configured togenerate the padding waveform by repeating the MC-OOC waveform of a WURHDR information bit having a value of one.
 19. An apparatus of a wake-upradio (WUR) non-access point (non-AP) station (STA) (WUR non-AP STA),the apparatus comprising: processing circuitry; and memory, wherein theprocessing circuitry is configured to: decode a 20 MHz subchannelportion of a WUR frequency division multiple access (FDMA) physicallayer convergence procedure (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU) (WUR FDMAPPDU) transmitted on a 40 MHz channel bandwidth comprising twocontiguous 20 MHz subchannels, the WUR FDMA PPDU comprising a WURtransmission on each of the contiguous 20 MHz subchannels, the WUR FDMAPPDU comprising a preamble and an FDMA WUR portion following thepreamble, and the FDMA WUR portion comprising a WUR synchronizationfield (WUR-Sync) followed by a WUR data field (WUR-Data) encoded fortransmission on each 20 MHz subchannel, wherein each WUR synchronizationfield indicates a data rate applied to the WUR data field which followsthe WUR synchronization on an associated one of the 20 MHz subchannels,and the data rate comprises either a WUR low-data rate (WUR LDR) or aWUR high-data rate (WUR HDR), wherein the preamble comprises a legacysignal field (L-SIG) indicating a length of the WUR FDMA PPDU, whereinthe WUR synchronization field and the WUR data field comprisemulticarrier on-off keying (MC-OOK) waveforms, wherein the processingcircuitry is configured to demodulate data of the WUR data field using aMC-OOK demodulation technique in accordance with either the WUR LDR orthe WUR HDR, and wherein the processing circuitry is further configuredto demodulate padding within the 20 MHz channels of the WUR FDMA PPDU ifa duration of the WUR transmission on any of the 20 MHZ subchannels isshorter than the length indicated by the L-SIG, wherein the processingcircuitry is configured to demodulate a padding waveform that comprisesa repeated MC-OOK waveform corresponding to an information bit having avalue of one modulated in accordance with the WUR HDR, the paddingwaveform being received after the WUR data field on each of the 20 MHzsubchannels.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the WURsynchronization field comprises a predetermined sequence modulated inaccordance with the MC-OOK waveform, and wherein the WUR data fieldcomprises encoded bits modulated in accordance with the MC-OOC waveform.21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the processing circuitry whereinthe WUR-Data field for the WUR LDR, each symbol is configured to have a4-microsecond duration, and wherein the WUR Data field for the WUR HDR,each symbol is configured to have a 2-microsecond duration.